my menu this week

sun-chili
mon-chicken spinach salad
tues-bean burritos
wed-chicken vegie noodle soup
thur-potatos and onions
fri-chicken potato soup
sat- lentil soup

Sugar

Sugar and the environment

What's the difference between white and raw sugar in terms of environmental impact? What about raw and brown sugar - are these the same product?

Let's take a brief look at how each of these cane sugar variations are created.

How raw sugar is made

Sugar cane is initially pressed and the juice is then mixed with lime to achieve the desired ph balance and to help settle out impurities. The resulting liquid is reduced through evaporation, then a centrifuge used to separate sugar crystals. It is then dried further to produce granules. The brown color of raw sugar is due to presence of molasses.

How white sugar is made

White" sugar is created in a couple of ways.

Mill white sugar is the result of sulphur dioxide being introduced to the cane juice before evaporation. It effectively bleaches the mixture.

In the production of refined white sugar, which is the most common product in the Western world, the raw sugar syrup is mixed with a heavy syrup and run through a centrifuge again to take away the outer coating of the raw sugar crystals.

Phosphoric acid and calcium hydroxide are then added to the juice which then combine and absorb or trap impurities. Alternatively, carbon dioxide is used to achieve the same effect.

The resulting syrup is then filtered through a bed of activated carbon to remove molasses and then crystallized a number of times under vacuum. It is then further dried to produce white refined sugar like we buy in the store.

Brown sugar

Brown sugar is refined white sugar with a molasses syrup mixed in, then dried again.

Sugar use in other countries

While the sugar cane plant is a somewhat thirsty plant, it's one of nature's best photosynthesizers. In many countries, simple crushed sugar cane is the way you get your sugar fix, or other treats that require little further processing of the sugar cane.

Sugar cane and the environment

Environmentally speaking, the less processing required means the less energy used, less waste products and fewer chemicals.

While whole or crushed sugar cane can be difficult to source in the city, out of the options remaining, raw sugar is the more earth friendly option and brown sugar oddly enough is the worst choice.

It never ceases to amaze me the number of food processing sequences that take something out of a food, only to add it back in later on, such is the case with brown sugar. Another example of this is breadmaking flour that has most of vitamins destroyed in the milling/bleaching process only to have vitamins needed to be added back in.

The bad news about sugar and the environment doesn't end with how the syrup is processed into a final product.

Effluent and waste from sugar mills creates major problems for local environments. Pesticides and herbicides applied during cultivation contaminate the ground and water supplies. Added to these problems is the firing of sugar cane prior to harvesting which pumps millions of tons of carbon dioxide and and other chemicals into the atmosphere each year. Natural habitats in sensitive areas are often cleared in order to grow sugar cane to meet increasing demand.

Do we need added sugar?

Our collective sweet tooth causes far more damage than just cavities. Our sugar choices should go beyond the type of sugar we buy or the type that's present in products we purchase; it's also a question of consumption levels. The simple fact of the matter is that most of us have no need for the amount of added sugar we consume. Sugars can be made by our own bodies through the conversion of carbohydrates present in many foods, or through various forms of sugar other than glucose present in fruit and vegetables.



taken from HERE


ALTERNATIVES we (tami and family) have chosen
raw honey, (we are blessed to have a local seller down the road!)
maple syrup- try this mixed in oatmeal or cream of wheat!
molasses- good for cookies
naturally sweetened jam- polaner's all fruit for example. they use dehydrated sugar cane juice

skirts

busy day today- my weekly bible study with dorothy- so i will just leave you with 2 links to fantastic reading!!!!


skirts only? YES! with verses to back up that thought!

what about "back in the scriptures" clothing?

Wordless Wednesday

prayer request and books for sale

as some of you know if you follow my tweets or facebook page my dad had some sort of a seizure today. at first they thought it was a stroke due to his behavior but tests show that isn't true. they ruled a few other things out but have now discovered he has a lesion on his brain. he is in his first year of cancer remission and they are thinking it might have come back or it could be something else. they will do more tests tomorrow.
i live in texas and my parents live in florida so i am not able to be there. we have a troubled relationship to begin with. i have no siblings to be there with my mom.

my parents have been thru it healthwise. 2 years ago my dad was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer- the extremely rare (only 39 cases a year) mantle cell . he almost died but now he is in remission. then a month after that good news my mother had a stroke. she came out of that and now a few months late this happens to my dad.

so prayers please.




now for a break from the trauma of today
. i am gonna start decluttering my home more than normal so i plan on listing a few things for sale now and then.
i am going thru my books and try as i might i just can't seem to get rid of very many. but i did grab 3 of them and i'll list them here in case anyone is interested. i'll get more up as i can.

1-the great eight by scott hamilton scott's autobio including his cancer retails at $24.95 hardcover asking $6.00 sent media mail includes shipping

2-marie osmond's might as well laugh about it now another autobio hardcover
retailed for $24.95 asking $7.50 sent media mail includes shipping

3-joseph by charles swindoll book club edition hardcover $5.25 shipping included sent media mail


shipping is higher than i thought it would be so that's why i am asking more than i had wanted to. i plan to put more books for sale as well as other things if i think anyone is interested.

Frigidaire and Save the Children

i came across this ladies.
for some reason my links aren't working so go HERE to spin and win!




Frigidaire and Jennifer Garner are teaming up once again to support Save the Children's U.S. Programs, dedicated to helping children living in poverty in the United States.

Their new Spin & Win game gives you the opportunity to win gift cards for spending quality time with your tykes - whether it's curling up with some new books, starting a craft project or taking in a family flick. They're giving away a prize every day. Plus, you could also win a brand new Frigidaire Affinity washer and dryer, with time-saving features that give you more time for the important things in life.

Best of all, every time you play, Frigidaire will donate $1 to Save the Children, as part of their $250,000 commitment to support Save the Children's CHANGE program, dedicated to providing nutritious snacks and promoting healthier lifestyles for children living in poverty in the United States.

go HERE to participate

now i don't know about you but i think being given a chance to help so much with so little effort is fantastic! save the children is a wonderful organization and knowing that these 2 entities are working together gives me hope for the corporate world ~smile~
and i also think being given some help in creating valuable family time is a nice thing too! after all, we here at A Godly Homemaker are very family- oriented ~smile`

so let's work together and help out a worthy cause and spin to win at the same time.

WIN AN APRON!

LOOK MELISSA- I FOUND AN APRON GIVEAWAY!





(notice the red angie? !)

go HERE to enter

works for me!

go HERE for more


my little girl was sick last nite- throwing up constantly. i moved her to the kid bed in my room for the night. yes- i have a spare bed in my room for a child in need, whether from sickness or nightmares .
now this may not be a solution for everyone but it works for me. it allows the child to feel comforted (and gives me quick access to a sick child) and it allows me to get some sleep i wouldn't have gotten otherwise.

making your own

i came across this site, frugally green, a while ago. one of the blogposts really caught my eye- this one HERE

how cost effective is it to make certain items was the subject and it got me to thinking!

what all can i make? what all do i need to learn to make?

i can make the following from scratch:
bread- when i get it right, which isn't every time!
burger buns
salad dressings
stock
quick breads
cakes, cookies etc
seasonings
tortilla shells
yogurt
toothpaste- i copy susan's at homestead momma but tweek it a bit for my fussy family
all purpose cleaner, detergent, dishwashing detergent
hairspray (thanks to Jocelyn at a pondering heart)


need to learn how to make:
salsa, tomato sauce (i have a canner but i have never found a source for tomatos since my garden down in florida!)
soap- fun maybe but worth it?
butter- IF i ever get a cow
pies- i have made them but they need help!
cheese- at hubby's request
deodorant- i plan to use Katie's at kitchen stewardship
candles? i get so many on clearance i'm not sure i can justify the "work"


i am sure there are more things to add to both lists but you get the idea. i want to be self-sufficient but have a long way to go.

what about you? can you give me a run for my money? (NOT hard to do!) or are you just now gleaning a few ideas?

SHARE!! comment ladies! Arlene- you make great soap. share! plus your recent yogurt cooking is up on your blog right now!

talk amongst yourselves.

just a tidbit for now

1Th 5:17 pray without ceasing

Pray - strong's concordance number is g4336 proseuchomai

1Cr 11:5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with [her] head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven

Pray - strong's concordance number is g4336 proseuchomai


AHA! a woman should wear a headcovering whenever she prays and she shouldn't cease praying so she should wear a headcovering at all times, not just in church service becuz that would have had a different noun . these are the same :)

note the articles on headovering on my sidebar :)

Heather Won!

Heather at marine corps nomads has won the giveaway!!!
what's so funny is that i entered a contest at her blog a few days ago and i won! in "checking" me out she entered the giveaway i was holding and she won!! lol lol

i found another apron giveaway

lucky canuck is holding a giveaway and the prize is an apron!!! since so many of us wear them i like to alert you to these giveaways :)

so go here and enter

and don't forget to enter MY giveaway- it ends tonite!

GUESS WHAT I'M GETTING READY TO DO!

What is the Best Backyard Chicken Breed?
By CD Miller Platinum Quality Author
CD Miller
Level: Platinum

CD Miller has always been an animal lover. She has worked in the veterinary field for more than 10 years, and in 2007, began the ...




Ultimately, this is a personal decision. There is a very diverse and long list of chicken breeds to choose from. Many people choose a breed based on appearance alone. Knowing why you want to raise chickens is probably the best place to start when trying to determine which breed is right for you.

People raise backyard chickens for different reasons. Maybe you want to have a supply of fresh, healthy eggs or meat for you and your family. Maybe you are looking for an environmentally friendly method of controlling weeds and insects. Maybe you are looking for a source of fertilizer for your garden. Maybe you've always dreamed of taking the blue ribbon at the fair for your prized show chicken. Or, maybe you just like chickens, and want to wake up in the morning to hear a rooster crowing outside your window.

Chickens will provide all of these benefits -- and provide you will hours of entertainment and enjoyment. They really do have delightful personalities (although some roosters can be downright mean!). One of my favorite parts of every day is walking in the yard with a trail of 15 or more hens following along behind me.

Determining what your goal is will also help you determine how to set up your flock. If you are only raising chickens for eggs and/or meat to eat, they you don't need a rooster. The only reason you really need a rooster is if you specifically want fertile eggs for hatching. Your hens will lay eggs with or without a rooster. If you do want fertile eggs, or you just like the idea of having a rooster in your flock, make sure you keep the rooster:hen ratio in line. Generally, one rooster for every 10 to 12 hens is sufficient. You definitely don't want less than 8 hens for every rooster, or your flock will suffer. The hens will be in too much demand, and the roosters will begin fighting among themselves.

Why you want chickens will influence which breed you choose. Basically, chickens can be categorized as meat birds, layers, novelty, or dual purpose. A couple of breeds which are considered good meat producers are Cornish and New Hampshire Red. Some good egg layers are Leghorn, Anacona and Rhode Island Red. Brahma, Silky and Buttercup are good show birds.

If you are planning to have a small backyard flock, your best bet is probably a dual purpose breed, although I initially started out with a commercial broiler breed. Some good dual purpose breeds are Dominique, Plymouth Rock, Wyandotte, and Dorking.

Other things to consider are the climate and temperature in your area. I would check with other chicken farmers in your specific part of the country to determine which breeds are the most successful.

If you are still undecided about what type of chickens you would like to raise, you might want to check into raising heritage or heirloom chickens. These are chickens which are considered rare or endangered. If you would like to help save a breed, plan on raising a flock of about 50 chickens, including some roosters, to ensure fertile eggs that you can hatch or sell to others for hatching and help protect an endangered breed.

Whichever breed you decide on, raising backyard chickens can be an enjoyable adventure!

CD Miller is the founder of Mill Creek Animal Rescue. You can view pets available for adoption at Petfinder.com Also, be sure to visit The New Pet Zone for the latest news and product reviews for a healthier happier pet!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=CD_Miller

Passing Along

this came from :momdot

i didn't write it, only copied and pasted it.



I need the blogosphere to please read



By: Trisha-admin

We have lost a valuable member and friend today, Karissa, from Prissy Green.

She has taken her life. I’m still wrapping my head around it.

Ill be posting where to send her family condolences and flowers soon if you were close or knew her.

She was extremely active in our community. I just talked to her via email on the 7th and she said she was taking a mini break and would be back to the boards soon. Stef called her house today to check on her and received the terrible news from her family.

She was a friend. She was a beautiful person, inside and out.

I wish I had seen the signs. I think all of us here are running through recent conversations wondering where we went wrong.

Please, please, if you need help reach out.

Call someone.

Call me.

Don’t take your life.

~Trisha

simple woman's daybook and menu monday post

My Simple Woman’s Daybook … January 11, 2010



Outside my Window…it is frosty and pretty.

I am thinking…about getting my week in order

I am thankful for…my early rising baby

From the kitchen…there is a stack of late night snacking dishes to be washed

From the learning rooms…all is quiet til later

I am wearing…just my nightie at the moment.

I am reading…just finished romans, let's see where God leads me tonight!

I am hoping…for a peaceful quiet day

I am hearing…the hum of the heater running

I am creating…an enriching home for 9 lives

Around the house…things are quiet, kids are still asleep which is unusual!

One of my favorite things…the smokie mountains. wish i could see them this morning.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week- school and 3 bible studies to host.







mon-ham and bean soup
tues-spaghetti
wed-chili
thurs-ham and corn and biscuits
fri-sausage and rice

we bought 13 hams ladies! they went down from $3.82 a lb to 98 cents a lb! and they say NO NITRITES on the label!!!! depending on the meal i can get 2 meals from each one!! i blew a lot of my monthly grocery budget on these but i have extra goodies in my cabinets becuz i shop sales all year long.

giveaway time!

look what i have been blessed with to try and give away to one of you!

Citrus-Mint Skin Exfoliator


info taken from Tropical Tradition's website:
Description: Exfoliating smoothes the skin, unclogs pores, and reduces the appearance of wrinkles.
Ingredients: sea salt, organic virgin coconut oil, organic jojoba, and organic virgin palm oil. Scented varieties contain organic essential oils.

I KNOW THE SECRET TO THIS GREAT PRODUCT!
it's the moisturizing oils. the scrubby crystals are fantastic but it's the oils (that don't stay oily on your skin tho :) ) that are the special ingredient.

your skin is soft without applying a lotion afterward. just towel off and you're done! no icky oil slick but just softness. and the citrus smell is wonderful! (it comes in unscented too)

i also liked how i didn't need to use as much of this scrub as i do other ones, to get the same benefits. so i would save money too!

and guess what!!!! i get to let one of you try it!

just leave me a comment stating why you want to try this product.THIS IS THE MAIN ENTRY AND YOU MUST DO IT TO HAVE THE OTHERS COUNT.

For an extra chance to win sub to Tropical Tradition's newsletter. go HERE to do so.

and for my most loyalist of readers,for a third chance to win , name all 7 of my children!!!!

that's three chances to win!
oh and if you are interested in purchasing any products please use the referaal program. just place my User ID 5444709 on your order form and you'll receive a FREE copy of their Virgin Coconut Oil Book. i'll receive a coupon for complimentary products for each referral!

THIS GIVEAWAY ENDS FRIDAY THE 15TH NIGHT AT 6 P.M.

Disclaimer: Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

some pics

the spices over my oven lol

links links links

these are some of my fav links and i'm sharing them with you. :)


http://lds.about.com/od/preparednessfoodstorage/a/foodstoragecost.htm- i just found this one and it seems helpful.


http://urbanhomestead.org

http://www.stayathomedaughters.com/

http://byhisgraceandforhisglory.blogspot.com/2009/11/biblical-case-for-stay-at-home.html click thru to get to the rest :)

EMERGENCY

okay, is everybody suffering from cold weather LOL LOL? i know here, it is, with the wind chill, 0 degrees. which leads me to my post :)

i ran out of milk yesterday and hubby didn't get home until too late to go to the store. what do i do? did i brave the weather and walk to walmart? no i went to my emergency freezer and took out a gallon from my emergency milk supply!
do you have some emergency milk around your house? do you have any emergency supplies? if not, here is a quick tutorial. if you do, then just nod your head in agreement and smile.

next time you are grocery shopping grab 1 can of soup for every member of your family. grab a box of saltines. there! now you have a quick bite that will hold you over if you can't go buy any food. snowstorms, ice storms, hurricanes, etc all can cause you to not be able to go out and buy food. not to mention job loss or simply the inability to get to the store temporarily.

put a few bags of dried beans (very inexpensive!) in your emergency cabinet(more on that to come). , stock up on a few lbs of ground beef (cook and season ahead of time ) and add a couple of cans of tomato sauce. voila! you can make chili! maybe not your gourmet version but with garlic powder and onion powder you can make a tasty meal.
buy some broth or make your own and store that away (don't use glass jars in the freezer!!) add a few canned or frozen vegies and you make a soup with those beans :)

don't forget instant coffee for those days you don't have power and can't use the coffeemaker. (shudder!) it's not the best but in a survival mode it will do. best part- these pop up as freebies often on the freebie sites i have listed on my sidebar. (what? you don't visit my sidebars? well you miss out on a lot!)


make some cookies and freeze them. cut up and cook chicken, season well and bag it up for the freezer. (i recommend ziplock freezer bags). stash some tortillas in another baggie and you have another meal (hopefully you will have added cheese to your emergency cabinet!) chicken tacos anybody?

dill pickles come in huge jars and can be put up in a cabinet for several months and doled out as treats for the kids (or is it only my kids lol ?)

store an extra bag of potatos or yams in a closet somewhere and drag them out as needed. you were buying 5 lbs this week anyway weren't you? grab an extra bag!

you get the idea- whenever you go grocery shopping add a few things into the cart that are designated for the emergency cabinet. you don't need to spend an extra $100 (tho if you can i rec that you do) but you can probably spend $5. challenge yourself to come up with meals that cost $5 and under. hmmmmm isn't there a cookbook out there on this very subject? YES there is and here's a link to try and win one!

aim to have at least a week's worth of meals .

what about activities for the kids? if they can't go outside to blow off steam then they will do it inside!!!! put on some music- whether by battery or electric- and dance with them so you all get exercise. blow off steam the healthy way!

i have allowed the dvd player out more lately and i dug into my closet for those emergency dvds i pick up thru giveaways or clearance sales.

don't forget how fantastic fresh new art supplies can be to the artistic souls that lie within our children. did you know printer paper - the kind you print coupons on from the sites you get off of my sidebars HINT- is cheaper than art paper? grab an extra pack! cuz i know you buy that as soon as you run out right?!

i even threw a few packs of gum in the supply closet cuz kids love treats. heck this works well even when there isn't an emergency!

don't forget to throw some extra advil, bandaids etc in there too! both for you and the kids.

if you'll notice on MY SIDEBAR i have some links for food storage and and emergency preparedness. these ladies all do so much better than me at explaining and sharing. please visit them! they are better at explaining about storing water than i am :)



where do you store all this? under beds, on the shelf in your closet, in the bathtub (yes! stand a shelving unit in an unused tub, load with food and and pretty it up with a shower curtain and no one is the wiser.)
add some canned goods under your nighttable or endtable. once that beautiful tablecloth falls down over the sight no one will ever guess you have food storage in the living room!

can you buy a closet or cabinet with doors? this can be placed in every room.

get creative! do what works for you. the goal here is to put away some emergency food supplies and a few goodies (don't forget to add batteries, wet wipes,candles and matches!)

this is how the proverbs 31 woman in verse 21 is able to state She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household [are] clothed with scarlet.

you do have warm jackets, extra diapers AND A GRILL/CAMPSTOVE TO COOK ALL THIS ON don't you?

found a great one!

I WON THIS!!!

Jen at 11th Heaven's Homemaking Haven, 365 Days of TV-Free Toddler Time, and Mega-Family Blogs is giving away a flippin' waffle maker...

To enter, go HERE!!

What?! Another!

i have found another headcovering giveaway and i am sharing it with you. i truly believe women should wear headcoverings so i am personally thrilled when i find these giveaways. i know some of my readers feel the same way.
even if you don't wish to wear a headcovering for religious reasons you can still enjoy what Cover Your Hair has to offer- they have fashionable scarves and hats as well as pasminas. go see for yourself! look HERE
then go HERE to enter to win $25 worth of CYH products!!

all right!

for those who wear headcoverings this is a post you shouldn't miss!
i discovered a headcovering giveaway!!

go HERE to enter

someone will win a $10 Cover Your Hair Surprise Box!

twister!

hello. my name is Tami and i'm afraid of tornados.

i come from florida where we have a week of warning to leave before a hurricane and leave we would, if we felt we were in danger.

now i live in texas. right smack dab in the middle of tornado alley. (by the way i found out we get more tornados than even oklahoma!) however we saw 2 tornados in florida - 1 was an f3 but it only whizzed thru my yard, terrifying all of us, and hit the next street over. the other hit my house DIRECTLY but God told michael to leave immediately and we jumped in the car and went! i was shaking!!!! we came home to half a roof and we lost almost all our belongings.

i am terrified on a regular basis! i sometimes get so sick i throw up! when that siren goes off or i hear a warning on the radio i go into scared mode.

we have thought about moving elsewhere. looked into it seriously. BUT michael has a VERY GOOD JOB! he keeps getting more seniority and more privileges. he was the only one to get a 3 day weekend for christmas. this was such a privilege.

michael is a trucker by the way. he is home every night even tho some nites in season it is VERY LATE!~smile~

lest you think i exaggerate i have lived here for 2 years and we have been "hit" 4 times! my friend lost everything in her yard, including 100 yr old trees as the tornado whizzed thru her yard leaving her and her family huddling in the bathtub praying. there were 4 mobile homes destroyed and a roof taken off a house last week just a few miles from me.

there are other stories too. before i moved here there was a F4 in a town 8 minutes away from me that destroyed a lot of buildings and killed people. 8 minutes away ain't much!

tyler had a tornado a few weeks ago that didn't kill anyone but caused a great deal of damage. i can handle damage- it's the death part that scares me. yes i am saved but ....... tyler is 2 hours away and where we thought of moving when michael's company opens a new plant!

he ( and i )doesn't want to leave his job becuz it is so good and getting better every day.

sooooo what do i do?! i know all about praying- i do it all the time. yet my fear still rears it's ugly head.
i know- bad things happen everywhere. but i can't shake this fear.

any help?

an apron giveaway- whoo hoo!

i found this and had to share!



as usual- from my fav apron site-the apron goddesses

go HERE to enter